Susanne Liebel-Kotz
Biography
Susanne Liebel-Kotz is a partner in the Baker McKenzie Zurich office. She has more than 10 years’ experience in the fields of international tax planning and M&A.
Susanne is a member of the Firm’s Global Tax and Real Estate practice groups. She is a frequent speaker in seminars and other events regarding various taxation issues, particularly in relation to international taxation. Susanne is also a lecturer in the fields of international and real estate taxation.
In addition to be admitted to practice in Germany in 2012, Susanne is also a certified tax expert (Eidg. Dipl. Steuerexperte, Switzerland), gaining this qualification in 2019 after becoming a certified tax adviser in 2015 and a specialist lawyer in tax law in the same year.
Clients say that “Susanne Liebel-Kotz is technically strong in Swiss and German tax law; pragmatic and solution oriented,” and that “She can quickly familiarize herself with new topics and always gives quick feedback.”
Practice Focus
Susanne’s work focuses on international tax planning and tax advice in relation to M&A transactions and corporate restructurings, including private equity, venture capital, real estate and capital markets transactions. She also has a strong focus on transaction-related VAT and new technologies.
Susanne advises Swiss and international clients on inbound and outbound tax-planning strategies. In addition, she gives advice on tax matters in all phases of a transaction process: from designing tax-optimized acquisition and joint venture structures and carrying out tax due diligence reviews, to the drafting and negotiation of the transaction documentation’s tax-related aspects and implementing tax-efficient post-merger integrations.
Representative Legal Matters
- Advised pom+Group’s shareholders and management team on the strategic partnership with White Peaks Capital.
- Advised Araris Biotech on its USD 1.14 billion acquisition by Taiho Pharmaceutical.
- Advised OnlineDoctor and its shareholders on its acquisition by Lohmann & Rauscher.
- Advised Western Union on its acquisition of 14 Small World business locations in Switzerland.
- Advised sellers on the sale of Walter Meier (Fertigungslösungen) AG.
- Advised Planzer on its acquisition of Quickpac and Quickmail.
- Advised VT5 on the acquisition and public listing of R&S Group on the SIX Swiss Exchange.
- Advised Swiss Prime Site Immobilien AG on the acquisition of the prime office property “Fifty-One” located in Zurich-West.
- Advised PSP Swiss Property on the acquisition of the prime office property “Westpark.”
- Advised PSP Swiss Property AG on the conversion of its CHF 1.8 billion bond portfolio to green bonds and the conversion of its loan portfolio to a sustainability- linked loan.
- Advised Migros Group on an investment in Revendo.
- Advised Mövenpick Group in selling Marché International AG to Lagardère Travel Retail.
- Advised Datwyler on the acquisition of CTsystems.
- Advised OnlineDoctor on its acquisition of A.S.S.I.S.T.
- Advised edyn hospitality group on its acquisition of Hotel Ascot Zurich.
- Advised Patrimonium on the acquisition of a majority stake in Bächler + Güttinger AG.
- Advised Deka Immobilien Investment GmbH on the acquisition of a major logistics building near Geneva.
- Advised Stone Estate.Swiss AG Managed Vehicle on its acquisition of the economic interest in Credit Suisse’s real estate leasing portfolio.
Professional Honors
- “Up & Coming” Notable Practitioner 2025 for Tax, Chambers and Partners Global and Europe
- “Next Generation” Lawyer 2024 and 2025 for Tax, Legal 500
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Member, International Fiscal Association (IFA)
- Member, ExpertSuisse
Admissions
- Certified Tax Expert (Eidg. Dipl. Steuerexperte, Switzerland) (2019)
- Certified Tax Advisor (Steuerberater)~Germany (2015)
- Specialist Lawyer for Tax Law (Fachanwältin für Steuerrecht, Germany) (2015)
- Attorney-at-Law (Germany) (2012)
Education
- State of Bavaria (Second State Exam) (2011)
- University of Augsburg (First State Exam) (2009)
Languages
- English
- German